Blood Strangers

Once Removed

Oh my God you guys... here it finally is and I am so pleased with the results. Let's paint a scene: me, my dear friend Matt, my biological Aunt Dot, Cousin Kelly, First Cousin Once-Removed Adasynn are gathered around 2 mics, in the sun room, sometime before midnight, casually discussing the ladies' visit from Oklahoma and our collective family story. We discuss what discovering each other means to all of us, how and when we all met, the importance of hugging, celebrity encounters, and what IS a leaf-peeper anyway? Adventures were had that week, in the mountains, at the seaside, and in the darkness of my creepy New England basement. Leaf-peeper Dot shares her story which leaves her still with many questions about her own origins, how reconnecting with me and my mother was an unexpected Ancestry.com bonus, and how peeking in drawers sometimes is worth the trouble. Have a story to share or know someone who may? The podcast can't go on without YOUR stories! Email me at BloodStrangers603@gmail.com or message me on Instagram @BloodStrangers Blood Strangers is co-created by Charleen Thorburn and Tiffany Lessard; Title and Concept by Tiffany Lessard. Hosted and Produced by Charleen Thorburn. Audio Engineering by Justin Smith. Theme music is "The Plot Thickens" by Joshua Specht, courtesy of Soundstripe.

Meanwhile, in British Columbia...

Karen Doane (nee Cannizzaro) shares with us the decades long journey from first inquiry into her adoption when she was 18, to present-day connections with her extended birth family.  This wild ride takes us across time and space, before the time of the internet and DNA tests, from coast to coast, across the Northern Border, and is chock full of laughter and Karen's sweet memories of her birth mother.

My Cup Runneth Over

JD Mott shares his experience of receiving communication from a daughter he never knew he had (Tanya Hart, episode 3, Defeating the Gremlin: A Tale of Three Dads"), their meeting in 2020, and how their relationship has developed. If you've ever wanted to hear what pure astonished love, joy, and pride sound like: click here.  (FYI Parents: Marked "explicit" for brief swearing only).

For Denial, Press 3

Our guest, Lorinda, is someone I have known for a while. She is a superstar ER nurse living life in beautiful Southern Maine.  Like many of our prior guests, Lorinda’s life story got turned upside down this past year as a result of home DNA testing. Here’s our chat for the episode I’m calling … For Denial, Press 3. **EDIT** IF YOU ARE INTERESTED IN LISTENING TO NHPR'S BROADCAST OF MY RECENTLY TOLD STORY ABOUT FINDING MY BIRTH MOTHER, IT'S ON AT 9 *PM* on MARCH 25 AND 4PM MARCH 26TH. Oops...

Hey, Baby Girl!

The circle is truly unbroken in this story told by Jess Linscott. Jess is a substance use disorder therapist and former burlesque artist (I know, right?!) who originally came to talk about how she found and met her father, aunt, and siblings four years ago but from that meeting, something else truly magical happened. Call it fate, kismet, destiny, or whatever you want. It's undeniable that the connections we make are no coincidence and can carry much deeper meaning.  Have a story or know someone who does? email me at BloodStrangers603@gmail.com or send a message on Instagram @bloodstrangers